Hosts of The View, The Talk, Access Hollywood, CNBC, MSNBC, Wendy Williams, Conan O'Brien and more to wear purple on the air

New York, NY, October 19, 2011 – The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) will join millions of lesbian gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people and allies by participating in Spirit Day and wearing purple on October 20, 2011. Wearing purple on this day symbolizes support for LGBT people and against bullying of LGBT teens. For more information, visit: www.glaad.org/spiritday.

GLAAD is working with organizations including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the PACER Center, GLSEN, GSA Network, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), PFLAG and The Trevor Project as part of National Bullying Prevention Month to inspire Americans to wear purple on Spirit Day. In addition to wearing purple on October 20, supporters will be changing their Facebook and Twitter photos purple today through October 20 by using free applications to turn profile photos purple at www.glaad.org/spiritday. GLAAD partnered with Mobli to create a Spirit Day channel for Mobli apps on Android, Blackberry and iPhone products.

MTV will be turning its on-air logo purple along with the network’s Facebook, Twitter, MTV.com and MTV Act logos. Online and on-air logos for MTV2, mtvU, MTV Hits, MTV Jams and RateMyProfessors.com will also turn purple. MTV 44 and ½, the jumbotron in Times Square, will also light purple for Spirit Day.

The Sundance Channel has announced that its on-air logo will be purple. People en Espanol, X17 Online, TooFab.com and Seventeen magazine announced that their online logos will appear in purple.

The LAX Gateway lights at Los Angeles International Airport will also be lit purple.

Facebook distributed Spirit Day information to employees around the globe. Facebook Diversity and Facebook Safety pages will also turn purple. Facebook and the Network of Support will be urging users to sign the Stop Bullying: Speak Up social pledge at http://facebook.com/stopbullyingspeakup (press release: http://bit.ly/SBSUapp). The app enables educators, parents and students to make a personal commitment—and recruit others to join them—to help stop bullying.

As previously announced, LOGO will air a Spirit Day purple ribbon on the channel to drive viewers to NewNowNext.com to increase awareness against bullying. Additionally, their Twitter (@LogoTV) and Facebook photos will ‘go purple’ and pictures of staff, fans and talent will be posted to Tumblr throughout the day.

For a list of celebrity participants, media outlets, TV networks, organizations and corporations, visit http://www.glaad.org/spiritday/partners. Additional participants will be announced in coming days.

Spirit Day was started in 2010 by teenager Brittany McMillan as a way to show support for LGBT youth and remember those lives lost to suicide. Millions of teachers, workplaces, media personalities and students wore purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag.

Spirit Day coincides with GLSEN’s ‘Ally Week’ (October 17-21), a week for students to organize events that serve to identify, support and celebrate allies against anti-LGBT language, bullying and harassment in America’s schools and communities. GLSEN has partnered with GLAAD to promote Spirit Day as an event for students to participate in during ‘Ally Week.’ For more information about ‘Ally Week,’ visit www.allyweek.org.

“From corporate America to Hollywood to local grassroots advocates, Americans are taking a stand against bullying this Spirit Day and showing all LGBT teens that it’s okay to be who you are,” said GLAAD President Mike Thompson.

The PSAs urge viewers to take a stand against anti-LGBT bullying and direct viewers to GLAAD.org for resource kits offering best practices to parents, teachers and students. The free kits feature resources from the American Federation of Teachers, GLSEN, the National Center for Transgender Equality and The Trevor Project, among others.

About GLAAD: GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBT acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love. For more information, please visit www.glaad.org or connect with GLAAD on Facebook and Twitter.

About GLAAD

GLAAD rewrites the script for LGBT acceptance. As a dynamic media force, GLAAD tackles tough issues to shape the narrative and provoke dialogue that leads to cultural change. GLAAD protects all that has been accomplished and creates a world where everyone can live the life they love.more about GLAAD >>